It’s that time of the year again when I take a look back and review some of the green stories I covered here during the past year.
At the end of last year, I commented that Connecticut’s green economy was gaining momentum and was poised to grow in 2008. The growing number of green buildings, the investment in green technologies and the idea of creating green jobs were just some of the themes that were fueling this momentum and creating a sense of optimism. That all changed as the economy headed south this past spring and summer.
Frankly, this year was the year of the down economy. The green momentum that was gaining inertia in 2007, mellowed a bit this year but nationally and here in the state, there was positive green news; just not as robust as it was in 2007. 2008 was about surviving first and the green stuff second.
For this year, I decided that I would look at individuals that had a significant green impact story that enhanced the state’s economy and/or image. Here are Connecticut’s green rock stars for 2008, in no particular order. I have also included a group of future rock stars.
Mark Summers, President and CEO, CNC Software, Tolland – Mark founded CNC in the eighties and he admits that while he is a software guy by trade, his passion has always been and still is energy. CNC produces Mastercam, the most widely used CAD/CAM software in the world. The company’s facility in Tolland is one of the greenest in Connecticut and is a mini Google and they started their green initiatives way before it was hip like today. Besides having one of the largest ground mounted solar panel array’s the company also has thirty geothermal wells that provide heating and cooling for the building. The company supports employees wellness with a modern workout facility, bike repair shop and user friendly dining areas. Mark is committed to making CNC a company that will remain competitive in the new economy.
Beth Shluger, Race Director, Hartford Marathon – Beth presented one of the greenest world class marathons in the country this past October. The race received national publicity because of the green initiatives that Beth helped to direct and implement. Assisted with knowledge from Hartford based United Technologies (UTC) and Windsor based ING Financial Services the race used biodegradable cups made from corn for runners on the route, sneaker recycling collection points and tree plantings along the route race as part of ING’s Global Plant-a-Tree campaign. And back from last year was the UTC Bubbler. Engineers from UTC designed the bubbler to allow for 40 runners to drink water at once and eliminate 10,000 plastic bottles.
Bryan Garcia, Co-Director, Center for Business and the Environment at Yale – Under Bryan’s leadership, the Center has developed a great program for the next generation of workers. The Center has added to the education process by creating a platform to have a discussion about climate change and the coming carbon based economy. The Carbon Finance Speaker Series has attracted some of the best and brightest to the New Haven Campus. The Center’s open door policy of inviting and engaging the community to join the discussion is also encouraging and we look forward to participating in more discussions in 2009.
Christopher Zurcher, Owner/Managing Editor, CT Environmental Headlines, New Haven – Zurch, as he is known by close associates, has developed CT Environmental Headlines which provides a daily on-line news feed service on environmental issues in Connecticut. His updates have been timely and easy to sort through. In fact, buildingctgreen.com subscribes to the service and finds it to be a great tool. Chris has helped customers filter through the seamless amount of information produced daily and help them gain knowledge about what is happening around them and how they can participate.
Lise Dondy, President, The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, Rocky Hill - The fund promotes, develops, and invests in clean energy sources for the benefit of Connecticut ratepayers. Under Lise’s leadership over the last several years, the fund has gained both a national and international reputation and has become a model that other states are using to increase their use of green energy. This past year saw the fund invest in several large commercial projects for solar and fuel cell installations and has just completed a round of RFPs for a small wind energy pilot program.
Jeff Marshall, CEO, Green Earth Technologies, Stamford - The company relocated to Stamford from California this past February. Since then the consumer goods manufacturer of environmentally friendly consumer products for cars, boats and gardens has made national headlines for their American Grown Base Oils. G-OIL replaces the petrochemical base of traditional oil products with an “ultimate biodegradable” bio-base. This base, called tallow, or animal fat, is sustainable and can be collected domestically with grown beef, pork, and chicken fat. The company has about 20 employees in Stamford and has laboratories in California and Oklahoma, a distribution plant in Michigan, its branding and marketing facility in Florida and its sales teams across the country.
Gus Kellogg, Founder/President, Greenleaf Biofuels, LLC, Guilford – Gus has developed a great company and brand and has managed to become one of the leading biofuel distributors in the state and this past fall received funding to build a biodiesel production plant in New Haven Harbor area with an estimated capacity of 6.7 million gallons per year. Its primary markets will be heating oil and transportation fuel. Greenleaf Biofuels will use a diverse range of raw materials including waste and virgin vegetable oils. Gus has developed a business model that will is well poised to grow here in the Northeast.
Karen Lewis, President & CEO, South Arsenal Neighborhood Development Corporation, Hartford - Karen saw opportunity and grabbed it and should be applauded for her efforts to bring energy efficiency and green technology to the South Arsenal neighborhood here in Hartford. Last month, SAND with the help of United Technologies’ Building Community Excellence program, announced that it would build 100 Net Zero Energy homes year for 10 years. Construction begins early next year, with a pilot project of three two-family houses. The homes will produce as much energy as they use. The bonus is jobs will be created and these new workers will gain green job skills.
John Crosby, Chairman and CEO of Albert D. Phelps, Inc., Norwalk - Albert D. Phelps, Inc is the manager and a part owner of Merritt 7 Corporate Park in Norwalk. Under Crosby’s stewardhip, this cluster of buildings along the Merritt Parkway are ENERGY STAR® rated, LEED® registered, and this past fall the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named Merritt 7 one of the top 25 Green Power Energy Partner Leaders in the country. They were joined by the likes of Cisco, Intel, Kohl’s, PepsiCo and the 2008 World Series champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.
Mayor Bill Finch, City of Bridgeport - Earlier this year Mayor Finch launched B-Green 2020 (pdf), a sustainability initiative that will incorporate best green practices for managing the city’s buildings, operations, fleet of vehicles and it’s workforce. The effort hopes to also reduce the city’s energy costs. Mayor Finch has made a strong commitment to have Bridgeport be the greenest municipality in the state.
Some future green rock stars in the making.
Jacqueline Ryan, Principal, Academy of Engineering and Green Technology, Hartford High School – The Academy was launched this past fall and Jackie has both students and teachers highly motivated to teach math and science with a tint of green. The academy also will meet the requirements of the National Academy Foundation’s Academy of Engineering program. Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Sr. Director of School Design, Hartford Public Schools should also get some props for her efforts representing the city’s new vision for learning and support for the Academy.
Bruce Becker, President, Becker + Becker, Fairfield - Bruce and his firm should be commended for taking a risk and developing a huge project during the economic downturn. Shovels have just broken ground in New Haven and 360 State Street will be completed in the Fall of 2010. The building will be comprised of a 700,000 square foot mixed-use development with 500 apartments (including 50 affordable units), grocery store, other retail, a parking garage, and an early childhood education center. The project plans on using solar and fuel cell power as well as green roof technology.
Abul Islam, President and CEO of AI Engineers, Middletown - Islam has announced plans to build the first LEED Platinum rated commercial office building in Connecticut. The former WFSB Broadcast Center is designed by Tecton Architects, Inc. for the Owner/Developer AI Engineers and the proposed 12-story, $40 million glass, metal and concrete tower hopes to break ground in early 2009.
Filed under: Energy, Environmental protection, Good Green Stuff, Green Attitudes, Green Buildings, Green Business, Green Education, Green Technology, Recycling |
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